The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-01-27
Egyptian Luxuries.

An Alexandria correspondent, writ
ing to the Detroit Free Press, says: In
guiry into the method of preparing the
delicious coffee of Egypt-coffee served
in minute cups. even smaller than the
after-dinner coffee cups of France and
of the same straight-sided shape
brought to light the following facts:
First. the coffee should be pure Mocha
from the little island so near out in the
Mediterranean. and. by the way, it is
almost impossible to get the real article
since 1t is. all engaged years ahead.
Then the coffee is ground as fine as
flour. Next, q small amount of the
coffee and the necessary amount of
sugar is put into a brass or copper YES
sci shaped exactly like an ordinary
baby's tin-rattle. with the cover taken
off of one of the feet ends. The cup thus
formed and containing the mixture OF
coffee and sugur is filled nearly full OF
water and is held by the handle over
the fire until the coffee boils; then it Is
Withdrawn and allowed to cool mo-
ment, and is then held over the fire and
the coffee allowed to come to boil
again; once more it is cooled and after
the coffee comes to boil the third time
ii is ready and is poured into the little
cups. The brass coffee-boiler generally
holds enough for two cups, though
larger ones are sometimes used, some
holding four cupfuls. The liquid is
thick and brownish-b black, with light
colored froth on top. and it is delicious.
After the coffee is drank. at the bottom
of the cup remains about three teaspoon
fuls of sediment that is like thick mud
and is the coffee deposit. This coffee
and u glass of water and an amber
mouthpiece of the ten-foot long. flexible
stem of the narghileh are the sights
above the tables in all directions, and.
searching below, we find scattered
around the glass vessels half filled with
wafer. to which the snaky stem may be
traced.
1t is decidedly lazy mans smoke.
as the tobacco is very mild and half an
hour is required TO get half Il smoke,
and how long pipe will last no one
knows. An nour and half is as long
MS have smoked on one. and then it
was putting away better than ever. 1t
| NAV take an inveierate smoker to enjoy
one of these walter pipes. but when the
inveterate does get one he obtains
real treat after he has got the hang of it
and does not tire himself out drawing
too hard. Smoking Il narghileh differs
from other kinds of smoking i'm that the
smoke all goes through the water be-
low and is thus purified. and also IN
the method, because in place of short
putfs is substituted 4 deep breath, and
the smoke is taken into the lungs 1t is
not possible to smoke tho narghileh us
a pipe is smoked, so that those fearing
to inhale tobacco should never attack
| Il,
bubble" which seems very good
name, and appropriate. too. rs 1t ex-
presses the noise made by the separate
bubbles rs they rise TO The surface of the
water from the bottom of the vertical
pipe that leads up the tobacco.
The natives take their coffee and a
strong pull at this pipe, which is a regu-
lar piece of furniture, as soon as they
Keep at it all day, too. They claim,
colds, and they deserve credit for hav-
ing found an agreeable thing that is
good for any ailment, and that will re-
place fried onions around the neck of
the unfortunate soul with the cold.
The cafe is rs great an institution
with the people of the Orient as it is
with the French. and the warm climate
makes the shaded outdoor tables the
popular ones, and they are crowded all
day, whether along the Mohammed ALI
square and in the crowded business
places or in the back alleyways where
the visitors sit or recline on cane-bot-
toned lounges and meditatively draw
long draughts of peace. Where all
these men get a living is a mystery. as
thousands of them seem to do nothing
all day but drink coffee and smoke.
The shopkeeper in his little 10x10 store
smokes his narghleh while waiting for
customer The thing is us necessary
to an Egyptian as his hat, and possible
more SO.